In the Name of God

Call for paper

17^th International Conference on Central Asia & Caucasus

"Energy, water, food & transportation: areas for collaboration & integration"

Tehran - March 8-9(Monday - Tuesday), 2010

            A change in the concept of security in the age of post-modernism has left profound impact on the geopolitical definition of geographical regions such as Central Asia and Caucasus. During the past decade, "transportation, energy, food and water security" has been one of the topics of discussion in political and research centers of the world as well as the forums of the specialized UN agencies.

            Some authors believe that conflict over water and its distribution will be one of the major causes of political challenge and confrontation in the coming decades. In spite of its extensive water resources, due to differences over distribution of water resources, Central Asia and Caucasus is holding potentials for insecurity. At present, the instability resulting from food crisis in some regional states including Afghanistan has led some international agencies to seek a solution to this problem. Energy resources and the routes for their transfer are among causes of tense competition in the region.

            A glance at regional summit meetings and the developments of Central Asia and Caucasus indicates that despite the emergence of threats and challenges relating to the security of water, food, energy and transportation, the geopolitical role that the Islamic Republic of Iran can play in the attainment of security in the vital areas and also development of south-north and east-west corridors has not received sufficient attention, since the development of transportation will help bring about security and expand economic and cultural ties leading to regional integrity.

            In view of the importance of this issue and its regional and international implications, Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) is going to hold the 17^th international conference on Central Asia and Caucasus under the title of "energy, water, food and transportation: areas for collaboration and integration" to address the different aspects of this important issue.

            The main topis of the conference are as follows:

• 1. The role of energy, water, food and transportation in regional integration
• 2. The different aspects of food security in the region
• 3. Water and food: their national, regional and international significance.
• 4. Transportation: challenges and solutions
• 5. Socio-political implications of the lack of energy, water, food and transportation security in the region
• 6. Responsibility of states and international community for ensuring energy, water, food and transportation security in the region
• 7. The impact of changes in regional and international orders on energy, water, food and transportation security in Central Asia and Caucasus
• 8. Regional capacities for collaboration and integration and the role of the Islamic Republic of Iran in such integration process
• 9. The prospect of energy, water, food and transportation security
• 10. Appropriate mechanism for dealing with the threats and challenges facing regional collaboration and integration in the areas of energy, water, food and transportation

Volunteers who wish to participate in the conference are required to send an abstract of their paper together with a CV in one A4 page in word format not later than Feb.14, 2010 in Farsi, English or Russian and full text of the article till Feb 24, 2010 by e-mail to the secretariat of the conference.

Address of the conference secretariat: Shahid Bahonar St. Shahid Aghaee St. IPIS.Tehran.Iran, Central Asia and Caucasus Research Dept.

Tel :(+009821) 22802671- 75 extension: 3020- 3030 Fax  (+009821)22802649

E-mail: conference_cis@ipis.ir

Web Address: www.ipis.ir